Watermelon Growers Cooperative (WGC) Initiative

This idea came up after getting series of calls from my readers who live around Lagos and Ogun state. In this post, I will explain what WGC is all about and why I think you should consider it.

What Exactly is WGC?

This idea is intended to bring together people of like minds who will share ideas towards succeeding in their chosen course.

Interested members will come together, get a spacious land in their agreed location, and combine cash to till the land.

Do they have to do a joint business? Not at all.

After tilling the land, the portions will now be shared among the members according to the amount paid, and individual will face his or her project.

Why Should I Consider WGC?

There are challenges with every business. Farming is not different. But when people with same ideas and plans come together, consult together, make plans and follow up on them, the result is usually better.

Here are a few reasons why WGC sounds good to me:

Cost Reduction: With the skyrocketing cost of hiring land and tractor, it will definitely save you a lot of cost if a large area is leased and tilled altogether. For example, hiring a tractor for tilling 1 hectare may cost you almost the same amount to till 2 hectares. Can you see the economic wisdom here?

Enhanced Security: In this era of Fulani herdsmen destroying farm produce, it makes a lot of sense to get a suitable location and work together to fence it, instead of doing so individually. When your watermelon fruits begin to get ready for harvest, it may be necessary that you have a night guard to watch over your farm. You will agree that this is much easier when you work together as a team, than in isolation. Consider an example: A night guard may charge as much as 20 to N30,000 per month. With 10 cooperators, that is just N3,000 per month.

Idea Sharing: As a team, you can hold weekly meetings, table your challenges, and find solutions to them. In the absence of the spirit of competition, there is so much to learn from your fellow growers. For example, there are some who do not even know where to hire land or tractor. WGC takes care of all of that.

Easy Access to Loan: Nowadays, it is almost impossible to get government loans except you belong to a cooperative. And recently, CBN has been helping farmers with very low interest loans to boost agriculture in Nigeria.

Growth Potential: If this is well managed, do you know that this tiny idea can translate to bigger agro-investments? Think beyond watermelon. Think bigger. Think processing. There are lots of benefits.

Who Can Qualify to Participate

For now, this will be limited ONLY to people around Lagos and Ogun state. Why? From record, that is where I have a bulk of my readers. I do know that large expanse of lands can easily be located around Ogun state. This idea may be extended to other areas with time.

Will I Be Directly Involved?

Not directly. This is going to be individual projects. However, I will be free to offer support on the phone and via email at any time. If for any reason the group wants me around, this is going to be a special arrangement and will attract a charge.

My only involvement is to help to bring together those who are interested in the project. They will in turn carry out all the necessary arrangement, while I contribute my quota to their success.

Dear Joe, you have just solved a major problem for me with this WGC proposition. Since I purchased the Watermelon manual early this month,I have been wondering how and where I would get a suitable land for the business.
I support the idea 100%, and I am already one of the cooperators. I am based in Ikorodu, Lagos.
I am sending my information straight away.

That is very possible. Lagos and Ogun were chosen because most of my readers are from there. If we have a sizable number in Edo and Delta, the arrangement is very possible. Perhaps you can coordinate that and promptly inform me.

Sir am really happy for this information. I live in lagos but the problem irs that am a security man that just started working this month so when his the next planting season let me start saving towards it.

You can plant anywhere. The amount needed depends on the size. Getting the seed, chemicals and fertilizer will be all that you need, while you do the manual work. WGC can be extended to your area as soon as you have a size-able number of growers.

sir please what of we that are in Enugu state. am very much interested in the WGC stuff in South Eastern Nigeria. we have enough arable lands in Enugu South/East. all we lack is cash and enough enlightenment on the procedures of farming of watermelon

Just bring people interested in the project together, send them this link, http://www.agroincome.com/wm to join our free email series and www. agroincome.com/wm2 to get their blueprint. You can count on my full support as soon as they have their blueprints.

You know Ibadan better. I think you have to work on that. I however, do recommend some government agency to visit for land issues (See your Watermelon Production Blueprint at http://www.agroincome.com/wm2). A group should be at least 10 persons.

I paid for watermelon practical Blueprint on Saturday at 10:40am.s since then I hv not received any reply or my copy of Blueprint.pls check ur phone SMS nd email.pls confirm nd send my copy. Thanks OKEKE

I want to request for blueprints. I am already a registered member receiving messages. You sent a notice to pay some amount there and then, but could not assess my email then. I pleaded for another chance to make up.
I live in Ilorin and support WGC well. However I am retiring in December. I shall want the blue prints to study and prepare. Please let me know how to pay. Thanks.

This is an excellent idea and I will love to be part of it but I am in Osun state. I think separate arrangements should be made for different states and it should start immediately because this WAG can be a big business for you and your team Joe. We can get land but to have a team to work with might be a bit difficult.